I was watching David Cameron's speech in Edinburgh this lunchtime and was delighted to see that he has accepted that Wales should be independent, even though he thinks that, "England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are stronger together."

And this caption summed it up perfectly. The man is obviously more intelligent than I gave him credit for.

I'm sorry for any confusion, Ambiorix. I'm sure any question about Wales' constitutional arrangements has never entered Cameron's head. We're just a part of England. It was a comment on the BBC's caption ... a sign that they think Wales is irrelevant too. But no-one noticed the mistake and the BBC have been repeating the same caption all afternoon. Similarly, I'm sure the poor typist meant precious rather than previous, but that's the nature of Freudian slips.

Though come to think of it, can you imagine what Cameron might turn into when he no longer has the UK? A poor benighted (or should that be beknighted, for he's bound to get a consolation prize?) creature continually haunted by the memory of "My Precious".

MH - Another good discussion on Scottish Independence on the radio Wales phone in today and again most opinion pro Scots and Welsh independence. I can remember a time not so long ago when this would have been an opportunity for every anti Welsh bigot to run riot, how times are a changing!!http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01c1966/The_Radio_Wales_PhoneIn_16_02_2012/

Bizarre tactics from the unionists today. From a unionists point 2 questions would have been better as those on the border line would vote for devo max (thus one less vote for indy). With this there was a headache for Salmond: if 75% say yes to devo max, but just 51% say yes to indy - which does he go for!).

Today, Cameron removes this penbleth. Salmond has now been guaranteed more powers: he can't lose. On a good day he'd get independent on a not so good day he'll get more powers anyway!.

@ Anon 22:11 - My understanding was that the first question would ask whether the electors would like Scotland to become independent, while the second question would offer them a consolation prize if they don't. So a simple majority saying "yes" to the first question would result in an independent Scotland regardless of the split in the vote on the second question. Chances are I'm wrong though, so don't take my word on it.

Cameron's offer of "more powers" in the event of a no vote is as vague as it is non-binding. Unless a large amount of fleshing out is done to those very bare bones, I expect this new offer to vanish just as quickly and as quietly as all the other arguments this masterful Westminster government has yet brought to bear to the independence debate. Never forget that a better devolution settlement is exactly what the Tories of the day promised Scotland in the event of a no vote in the '79 referendum.

Voters might get the idea that the more people there are voting Yes, the more powers Scotland will get if it's a No. 20% Cameron will say there's no demand for change, 49% - better give them what they want.

So they might vote Yes in order to get Devo Max thinking "it won't pass anyway". Lots of them might do this.

The point is that Wales doesn't register on their radar, its not that they are vindictive or wish to slight Wales, we are just insignificant to them. The idea that there might be a "more equal" union just does not compute. The suggestion of a new Union Treaty will not happen for that reason.

Last time a Tory leader promised a better deal on devolution if Scotland voted No was Alec Douglas-Home and what did Scotland get - Thatcher and the Poll tax. Believe the Tories once shame on them, believe them a second time shame on you!

"Though come to think of it, can you imagine what Cameron might turn into when he no longer has the UK? A poor benighted (or should that be beknighted, for he's bound to get a consolation prize?) creature continually haunted by the memory of "My Precious"."

Or he'll be a hero who got rid of 40-odd Labour MP's and locked in Conservative rule in the United Kingdom of England and Assorted Other Bits for a generation.

Or he'll be a hero who got rid of 40-odd Labour MP's and locked in Conservative rule in the United Kingdom of England and Assorted Other Bits for a generation.

I wonder how long the shine will last on that.

So, as I understand it, if Scotland becomes independent, Wales becomes likely to follow suit. (If I were in Wales, I would certainly fear the reduced influence of non-English MPs at Westminster, especially given the craziness that currently passes for "policy" there. Whatever problems exist in Welsh politics, they pale in comparison.) I hear that due to NI's changing demographics, a referendum on union with the Republic could be won in the next couple of decades.

Suddenly England is left on its own, with FPTP locking in Tory rule on <50% of the popular vote. Non-Tory voters will agitate for PR (asking why Wales, Scotland and NI got a fair voting system but not England?). Meanwhile, the Tories may be damaged from within by infighting over who was to "blame" for the break-up of the UK, and rendered unable to effectively preserve the electoral status quo.

A new PR-elected House of Commons will feature significant representation from the BNP and UKIP (partly through defections from the Tories - see above), but those who voted for them will become so alarmed at what they hear when their new MPs actually open their mouths, and so worried at how many Tory MPs secretly agree with the extreme views of their erstwhile colleagues, that come the next General Election, they will be out on their ears, and a new era of progressive left-wing politics will be ushered in.

Well, in my dreams, anyway…

You see, Welsh independence is a good thing, even from an English point of view!

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